Trump has always been an embarrassment. He will always be an embarrassment! Anybody who thought this administration was going to be efficient, uplifting, or even adequate is a freaking loon. This administration will veer along towards catastrophe until Trump is removed.
We NOW have a criminal government against innocent people here in the USA!
Time to wear these kinds of shirts the next four years 👇
I saw that comment while scrolling late last night and did that thing where I typed a big long response and then deleted it. What an insane thing to complain about on a newsletter that takes so much work and literally presents so much actionable information on a silver platter and that gives so many of us so much hope that we are not powerless in this administration.
Thank you for what you do and for not allowing these ghouls to steal your joy and hope. I personally feel a little delusional sometimes convincing myself that maybe enough people will step in to stop xyz thing but hell, I'd rather be a little delusional than hopeless 💜
You're not delusional. Hope is a discipline like anything else. Alone it's fairly useless, but coupled with action it's indispensable, and powerful beyond belief.
I need the happy part! The shock doctrine is designed to make us too tired and negative to fight back. We have to remember joy is a form of resistance too (especially if we’re not feeling it).
Jess - I wouldn't continue subscribing if you pivoted to dooming (or even quiet despair and grim resilience). There's no shortage of that all over the place and it does nothing to move people forward. In fact, often it seems like an excuse or permission to just give up which I will never do. I've been more inspired than ever by your newsletters and after two years of subscribing, I upped my subscription to founding member yesterday because I wanted you to know that what you're doing is game-changing. Many of us sacrificed joy the last 8 years in the name of democracy; we can't do it any longer. We must move forward as fierce, resilient, joyful warriors.
wait, wait... are you the cheri huber who wrote "How You Do Anything Is How You Do Everything" and a number of other Zen Buddhism books, and has a retreat center in Murphys???
If you are, just know that your teachings have helped me over these decades, and that I had the joy of attending a silent retreat in Murphys many years ago.
Thank you!
(and if you're not, it's a very odd coincidence that you use the same closing phrase but please excuse my fan-girling)
Thanks for sticking with happiness! It calls to mind Emma Goldman who was a leader in the womens suffragette movement. She said “If I can’t dance it’s not my revolution!” Let’s follow her lead and dance as we revolt!!
Jessica, I can't put into words how grateful I am to you. You've been in this long game, day in and day out, for ages. And if you can still show optimism and encourage us to find the joy in our lives, then I feel better and work harder to resist. And like Beth, whose comment I just read, I'll keep chopping wood and carrying water. You are one of my heroes in this movement. Thank you.
I totally agree with you about the need to find joy during these difficult times. And I love your wisdom and understanding. And yes, no army can be effective when the morale is low. I too have a group of activists who call daily and my job is to keep up their morale. So thank you for giving me the tools and verbiage.
The Costco line worked well today. The woman to whom I spoke sounded very happy when I told her that I was calling to thank leadership for continuing to honor their DEI initiatives.
I like your "happy", too! These are dark and frightening times, but living without happiness doesn't make them better.
Please continue with the happy line. Every day, my husband and I say, "It is a good day!" Sometimes those words are really hard to say, but we are trying our darnedest to make each day as good as we possibly can. It's up to us. It always is!
I have been sending emails to companies supporting DEI and thanking them. And then, I send emails like this one--to companies like Target:
"Brian,
I have shopped at Target for many years--and most of the time, I leave with a lot of purchases.
Now, because Target has caved to this administration and is rolling back on its promise of DEI, not just to its employees, but in fact to its customers. If your employees are not representing our communities, why would we bother shopping at your stores.
You need to know that you are enabling the path to a full dictatorship. There is little difference between what you are doing and what the corporations did in the 1093s as Hitler was on the rise.
I expect better of you--you need to stand up and make a difference."
When employees are angry and resentful and don't represent the communities being served, then customers leave.
And Jessica, keep up our spirits and continue to send happy thoughts our way. We need them now, more than ever.
Adding my voice to needing the happy part. It’s empowering!! DT is playing us and sending down into the doldrums. Best resistance is to keep a strong sense of who we are and how we can push back.
Jessica, I love your positivity. It’s why I read your writing every day. There’s plenty of negativity out there if that’s what people want to read. Thank you for standing your ground.
I need the happy part. I need the activism prompts. I DON'T need to be reminded how awful things are. I ALREADY KNOW!!
So keep up the good work. And I'll keep chopping wood and carrying water.
Thanks, Beth!
In case anyone wants to respond to Costco on their smartphone, scroll all the way to the very bottom and you will see "feedback"
Trump has always been an embarrassment. He will always be an embarrassment! Anybody who thought this administration was going to be efficient, uplifting, or even adequate is a freaking loon. This administration will veer along towards catastrophe until Trump is removed.
We NOW have a criminal government against innocent people here in the USA!
Time to wear these kinds of shirts the next four years 👇
https://libtees-2.creator-spring.com
I saw that comment while scrolling late last night and did that thing where I typed a big long response and then deleted it. What an insane thing to complain about on a newsletter that takes so much work and literally presents so much actionable information on a silver platter and that gives so many of us so much hope that we are not powerless in this administration.
Thank you for what you do and for not allowing these ghouls to steal your joy and hope. I personally feel a little delusional sometimes convincing myself that maybe enough people will step in to stop xyz thing but hell, I'd rather be a little delusional than hopeless 💜
You're not delusional. Hope is a discipline like anything else. Alone it's fairly useless, but coupled with action it's indispensable, and powerful beyond belief.
Yes !!!
I need the happy part! The shock doctrine is designed to make us too tired and negative to fight back. We have to remember joy is a form of resistance too (especially if we’re not feeling it).
100%!
The dance keeps us in the fight because it is the dance we are fighting for.
That line. Pure magic.
So well said Stephen!
No thanks to me—I cribbed it from Dan Savage, whom Jessica recently quoted.
Yup. The whole quote is in Sunday's Extra Extra.
Jess - I wouldn't continue subscribing if you pivoted to dooming (or even quiet despair and grim resilience). There's no shortage of that all over the place and it does nothing to move people forward. In fact, often it seems like an excuse or permission to just give up which I will never do. I've been more inspired than ever by your newsletters and after two years of subscribing, I upped my subscription to founding member yesterday because I wanted you to know that what you're doing is game-changing. Many of us sacrificed joy the last 8 years in the name of democracy; we can't do it any longer. We must move forward as fierce, resilient, joyful warriors.
You're amazing. Thank you.
I'm happy about and deeply appreciate your focus on joy and love. It's what we are and if we choose it, it will save us.
In lovingkindness,
ch
wait, wait... are you the cheri huber who wrote "How You Do Anything Is How You Do Everything" and a number of other Zen Buddhism books, and has a retreat center in Murphys???
If you are, just know that your teachings have helped me over these decades, and that I had the joy of attending a silent retreat in Murphys many years ago.
Thank you!
(and if you're not, it's a very odd coincidence that you use the same closing phrase but please excuse my fan-girling)
Thanks for sticking with happiness! It calls to mind Emma Goldman who was a leader in the womens suffragette movement. She said “If I can’t dance it’s not my revolution!” Let’s follow her lead and dance as we revolt!!
LOVE that.
The fight ahead of us is long. Insisting on never finding joy in it is a road to failure.
Agree wholeheartedly.
Jessica, I can't put into words how grateful I am to you. You've been in this long game, day in and day out, for ages. And if you can still show optimism and encourage us to find the joy in our lives, then I feel better and work harder to resist. And like Beth, whose comment I just read, I'll keep chopping wood and carrying water. You are one of my heroes in this movement. Thank you.
Thank you, Amy. That means so much to me.
I totally agree with you about the need to find joy during these difficult times. And I love your wisdom and understanding. And yes, no army can be effective when the morale is low. I too have a group of activists who call daily and my job is to keep up their morale. So thank you for giving me the tools and verbiage.
And thank you for being that person for them. What a service.
The Costco line worked well today. The woman to whom I spoke sounded very happy when I told her that I was calling to thank leadership for continuing to honor their DEI initiatives.
I like your "happy", too! These are dark and frightening times, but living without happiness doesn't make them better.
Please continue with the happy line. Every day, my husband and I say, "It is a good day!" Sometimes those words are really hard to say, but we are trying our darnedest to make each day as good as we possibly can. It's up to us. It always is!
Yes. I love that.
I have been sending emails to companies supporting DEI and thanking them. And then, I send emails like this one--to companies like Target:
"Brian,
I have shopped at Target for many years--and most of the time, I leave with a lot of purchases.
Now, because Target has caved to this administration and is rolling back on its promise of DEI, not just to its employees, but in fact to its customers. If your employees are not representing our communities, why would we bother shopping at your stores.
You need to know that you are enabling the path to a full dictatorship. There is little difference between what you are doing and what the corporations did in the 1093s as Hitler was on the rise.
I expect better of you--you need to stand up and make a difference."
When employees are angry and resentful and don't represent the communities being served, then customers leave.
And Jessica, keep up our spirits and continue to send happy thoughts our way. We need them now, more than ever.
Adding my voice to needing the happy part. It’s empowering!! DT is playing us and sending down into the doldrums. Best resistance is to keep a strong sense of who we are and how we can push back.
This was fun: Dear Mr. Cornell,
Your choice to embrace racism and fascism means Target has lost my business.
I hope you enjoy your life as a supporter of Nazis.
Haha mine was equally trenchant.
Jessica, I love your positivity. It’s why I read your writing every day. There’s plenty of negativity out there if that’s what people want to read. Thank you for standing your ground.
Of course. And thank YOU for being here.